20-Year-Old Fire Emblem Game Now Available on Nintendo Switch Online

Surprise! Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has just been added to the Nintendo Switch Online library. Originally launched on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, it made its way to Western audiences in 2005. This game follows the journey of twin heirs, Eirika and Ephraim, as they battle to liberate their kingdom of Renais and unravel the mystery of their former ally's betrayal.

For many, this marks the first chance to experience Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. Released two decades ago, it was only the second Fire Emblem title to be released outside Japan and the last to be crafted for the GBA. In our 2005 review, we praised it highly, awarding it an 8.5/10, noting: "Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is to the original Fire Emblem just as Advance Wars 2 was to the original Advance Wars. It's only a letdown in the sense that all this game really offers is an entirely different storyline on top of the pre-existing gameplay built for the GBA Fire Emblem released in 2003."

Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription-based service for the Nintendo Switch, offering online multiplayer, a vast library of classic games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and soon the new GameCube libraries with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. A free seven-day trial is available for new users.

Speaking of the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, its release was initially set for June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99. However, due to delays caused by import tariffs enacted by President Trump, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date has been pushed back. Pre-orders will now open on April 24, maintaining the original price of $449.99.

You can register your interest with Nintendo to receive notifications about pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 and its accessories through the My Nintendo Store. Invitations to purchase will be sent out via email on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to users who have a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership and have logged at least 50 gameplay hours by April 2, 2025.